Research Misconduct

What is research misconduct?

The Research Council UK definition of research misconduct is fabrication, falsification, plagiarism or other serious deviations from commonly accepted practices in research for proposing, performing, reviewing, or reporting research results.

Fabrication is making up data or results and recording or reporting them.

Falsification is manipulating research materials, equipment, or processes, or changing or omitting data or results such that the research is not accurately represented in the research record.

Plagiarism is the appropriation of another person's ideas, processes, results, or words without giving appropriate credit.

Other serious deviations may include:

Misrepresentation of data and/or interests and or involvement;

Failure to follow accepted procedures or to exercise due care in carrying out responsibilities for:

Avoiding unreasonable risk or harm to humans; animals or the environment;

the proper handling of privileged or private information on individuals collected during the research

How to Raise a Concern

Research misconduct queries and concerns are dealt with at an institutional level. Our procedure to deal with such allegations has been developed in line with guidance issued by the UK Research Integrity Office.

Staff, students or any external individuals or organisations wishing to raise a concern about the integrity of research conducted at Swansea University can do so, preferably in writing, with as much supporting evidence as possible to the Registrar & Chief Operating Officer or Research Integrity Manager via the research misconduct dedicated mailbox.